Florida gets $169 million in energy grants

The Obama administration dispensed $3.2 billion in energy-efficiency grants today, including $169 million for Florida.

Miami-Dade County got by far the most of any local government in the state: $12.5 million. The city of Miami got another $4.7 million.

Palm Beach County got $6.6 million and Fort Lauderdale $2 million.

The funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use.

It comes from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by the economic-stimulus bill that President Obama signed into law.

The money is supposed to go to projects that reduce energy use and fossil-fuel emissions. It?s also supposed to create jobs in a hurry.

Examples include energy audits and retrofits in houses and buildings, development of advanced building codes and creation of financial incentives for energy efficiency.

Other eligible activities include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce methane and other greenhouse-gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings and energy-efficient traffic signals and street lights.

Grant recipients were told to report on the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed and greenhouse-gas emissions reduced.